Hoop-rolling device



March 29, 1966 s w HOOP-ROLLING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1964 //vv/vr0/? PAUL SAKWA ATTUR/VEY United States Patent 3,242,612 HOOP-ROLLING DEVICE Paul Sakwa, 825 New Hampshire Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No. 364,924 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-220) This invention relates to a device for rolling toy hoops along the ground, such as those which have been used by children for many years as a source of amusement and competition. More particularly, the invention consists in new and useful improvement in a hoop-controlling stick designed to facilitate the locomotion and guiding of a toy hoop as it travels on its periphery over the ground.

Conventionally, toy hoops have been rolled along the ground by the use of a straight stick or the like which was intermittently brought into cross-wise contact with the periphery of the hoop on its trailing side with Suecessive movements which facilitated the speed of advance of the hoop. However, with this known procedure, there was very little real control of the hoop in maintaining the desired speed of rotation or direction of travel.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a hoop-controlling stick having a hoopengaging yoke designed to afford a maximum control of the speed and direction of travel of the hoop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoop controlling stick of this nature which not only facilitates the advance of the hoop, by proper manipulation, can also serve as a braking device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoop controlling stick which is simple in construction and is devoid of sharp projections which might injure a child in the course of play.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hoop controlling stick which, in addition to its primary use for controlling the advance and direction of travel of a rolling hoop, is designed to serve as a hoop-retaining means or parking device when the hoop is not in use.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the hoopcontrolling stick in hoop-advancing position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the hoop-controlling stick in braking position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the hoopcontrolling stick in hoop-retaining position while leaning against a wall;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view showing the invention in use as a hoop hanger; and

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the use of the invention in picking up a hoop from the ground.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the hoop cont-rolling stick is preferably formed of a continuous piece of steel wire, bent to form a handle portion, generally indicated by the numeral 10 and comprising two longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side portions 10a and 10b, joined at one end as at 11. The handle side portions 10a and 10b are straight and diverge slightly from the joined end 11 of the handle, terminating at the opposite end of said handle in an integral hoopengaging yoke 12 of substantially U-shape. This yoke is formed by bending the forward ends of respective side 3,242,612 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 portions 10a and 10b down and back at a common acute angle to provide a pair of substantially parallel, lateral guide arms 12a and 12b, the ends of which are joined at right angles by a cross-arm 120. Thus, the yoke 12 is forwardly bifurcated-and provides an open hoop-receiving mouth 12d of a Width to be freely slipped over a portion of the periphery of a hoop 13, as seen in FIG. 2.

The width of the open yoke is preferably such as to receive the rim of the hoop 13 with allowance for a certain degree of relative lateral movement but without interference of the guide arms 12a and 12b with the edges of the hoop rim. As shown in FIG. 2, the angular relation of the yoke 12 with respect to the handle 10 is designed so as to present the yoke, when in hoop-advancing position, substantially parallel with the ground, with the handle held at an angle convenient to the operator. Depending upon the height of the operator which determines, to some extent, the proper angle at which the handle is held, the angle of the yoke may be varied to meet particular requirements. In any event, it should be less than and usually between 40 and 50.

In operation, with the hoop-control stick in the advancing position shown in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the cross arm 12c engages across the trailing portion of the hoop periphery, and by manipulating the device with the handle 10, the speed of hoop travel can be increased as desired, and the direction of travel maintained under control by lateral shifting of the stick.

When it is desired to retard the advance of the hoop 13, the position of the control stick is reversed as seen in FIG. 3. In this position, the cross arm 12c engages the leading portion of the hoop periphery, and by pressing downwardly on the handle, it serves as a braking device. In this position, the longitudinal space between the handle side portions 10a and 10b accommodates the rim of the hoop so that the yoke and its cross-arm can be caused to engage the leading portion of the hoops periphery at any desired elevation with respect to the ground. In other Words, if it is simply desired to reduce the speed of the hoop, the yoke would be positioned as shown in FIG. 3, while if it is desired to completely stop the hoop, the yoke would be moved down and positioned against the hoop periphery at a point closer to the ground.

As previously pointed out, the hoop-controlling stick of the invention may be used as a hoop-retaining device, in addition to its use in controlling the speed and direction of the hoop travel. FIG. 4 illustrates the stick with its yoke 12 resting on the ground, and the upper end of its handle leaning against a wall 14. In this position, the hoop 13 may be placed with the lower portion of its periphery resting in the yoke 12, and the upper portion of the hoop leaning against the handle 10. It will be apparent that the spaced guide arms 12a and 121) will serve as a rack for the periphery of the hoop.

As shown in FIG. 5, the handle of the hoop may be hung on a nail or the like 15 and suspended from a wall or other support with the hoop 13 suspended from the angular yoke 12.

It will also be noted that due to the angular relation of the yoke 12 with respect to the handle 10, the device may be used as shown in FIG. 6 to pick up a hoop which is lying on the ground. In other words, by simply engaging the rim of the hoop in the yoke 12, the hoop may be picked up with ease,

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a toy hoop, a detachable hooprolling stick, comprising an elongated handle terminating at one end in a forwardly directed, substantially U-shaped yoke having the same longitudinal axis as the handle, said yoke having side arms laterally spaced to freely and detachably accommodate the rim of said hoop therebetween and directed rearwardly at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said handle, said side arms being conneced at the base of the yoke by a cross-arm adapted to frictionally engage across the outer periphery of said hoop, said yoke being reversible by said handle for selective presentation to said rim in a position either upwardly or downwardly disposed with respect to the plane of said handle, whereby the speed of said hoop in rolling over the ground and its direction of travel may be controlled.

2. In combination with a toy hoop, a detachable hooprolling stick formed of a single piece of stifi wire, bent at one end to provide an elongated handle consisting of two laterally spaced, equal length of said wire connected at said one end and terminating at their opposite ends in laterally spaced, substantially parallel side arms which are directed rearwardly at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said handle and joined at their rearward extremities by a transverse cross-arm to thus provide a forwardly opening, substantially U-shaped yoke for freely and detachably embracing the rim of said hoop, said yoke being reversible by said handle for selective presentation to said rim in a position either upwardly or downwardly disposed with respect to the plane of said handle, whereby the speed of said hoop in rolling over the ground and its direction of travel may be controlled.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,064 5/1957 McDonald 4620 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. B. LEONARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TOY HOOP, A DETACHABLE HOOPROLLING STICK, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HANDLE TERMINATING AT ONE END IN A FORWARDLY DIRECTED, SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED YOKE HAVING THE SAME LONGITUDINAL AXIS AS THE HANDLE, SAID YOKE HAVING SIDE ARMS LATERALLY SPACED TO FREELY AND DETACHABLY ACCOMMODATE THE RIM OF SAID HOOP THEREBETWEEN AND DIRECTED REARWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID HANDLE, SAID SIDE ARMS BEING CONNECTED AT THE BASE OF THE YOKE BY A CROSS-ARM ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE ACROSS THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID HOOP, SAID YOKE BEING REVERSIBLE BY SAID HANDLE FOR SELECTIVE PRESENTATION TO SAID RIM IN A POSITION EITHER UPWARDLY OR DOWNWARDLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SAID HANDLE, WHEREBY THE SPEED OF SAID HOOP IN ROLLING OVER THE GROUND AND ITS DIRECTION OF TRAVEL MAY BE CONTROLLED. 